Speeding truckers pose a significant risk to Georgia motorists. The combination of excessive speed and the sheer mass of commercial trucks can result in devastating accidents. Some ways in which speeding truckers can cause dangerous accidents include:
- Reduced reaction time. Higher speeds reduce a driver's ability to react quickly to unexpected events, such as sudden stops or obstacles on the road. For a trucker, the stopping distance at high speeds is much greater due to their vehicle's weight.
- Difficulty in maneuvering. Trucks require more time and space to change lanes, make turns, and navigate curves. Speeding diminishes a truck driver's ability to make these maneuvers safely.
- Increased impact force. The force of impact in a collision increases exponentially with speed. A speeding truck hitting a smaller vehicle can lead to severe injuries and fatalities.
- Jackknifing and rollovers. Speeding increases the likelihood of a truck jackknifing (when the trailer swings out of line with the cab) or rolling over, both of which can block multiple lanes and cause further accidents.
Why You Need an Attorney After an Accident Caused by a Speeding Truck Driver
Proving that the trucker was speeding can help establish their negligence, which generally involves an attorney showing evidence to establish the following:
- Duty of care. The trucker had a responsibility to operate their vehicle safely and obey traffic laws.
- Breach of duty. Speeding represents a breach of this duty, as it endangers other road users.
- Causation. It must be shown that the trucker's speeding directly caused or significantly contributed to the accident.
- Damages. The accident resulted in measurable damages, such as medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
When you work with our firm, our experienced Atlanta truck accident attorneys will help you gather evidence such as witness testimony, photographs of the accident scene, or information from the truck’s event data recorder (EDR) to build your case. You can also help by providing copies of your medical bills and pay stubs or other documentation of your lost wages.
Potential Recovery After a Georgia Truck Crash
If you're hurt due to a speeding trucker's actions, you may be entitled to compensation for various damages, including:
- Medical expenses. Coverage for current and future medical bills related to your injuries.
- Lost income. Compensation for wages lost due to missed work during recovery.
- Property damage. Repair or replacement costs for your damaged vehicle and belongings.
- Pain and suffering. Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life.
- Punitive damages. In cases of extreme negligence or recklessness, you may also be awarded punitive damages to punish the at-fault party.
If your accident occurred while you were working for your employer, you may also have a workers’ compensation claim. For example, Rechtman & Spevak’s truck accident attorneys were able to help a recycling company worker who was run over by another truck that began backing up before being instructed to do so receive a $1,000,000 settlement from the at-fault trucking company in addition to his Georgia workers’ compensation benefits.